United News of Bangladesh

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with European leaders in London on Friday to seek increased military and logistical support as the war with Russia enters its fourth year. The talks, hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, brought together two dozen leaders and focused on enhancing Ukraine’s air defenses, safeguarding its power grid from almost daily Russian drone and missile attacks, and supplying longer-range missiles capable of striking deep inside Russia. Starmer and Zelenskyy also discussed ways to maintain pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid recent Western sanctions targeting Russia’s oil and gas exports. Starmer welcomed Zelenskyy at 10 Downing Street, saying, “Time and again we offer Putin the chance to end his needless invasion, to stop the killing and recall his troops, but he repeatedly rejects those proposals and any chance of peace.” The meeting also considered a potential “reassurance force” of air and naval support to help train Ukrainian forces, with its headquarters expected to rotate between Paris and London. About 20 other leaders joined via video link in the group dubbed the Coalition of the Willing. EU leaders eye Gaza role at summit on Ukraine, Russia Meanwhile, the conflict continued on the ground. Russia claimed the capture of 10 Ukrainian villages in Donetsk and reported downing 111 Ukrainian drones, causing property damage near Moscow. Ukraine reported Russian artillery strikes in Kherson, killing two and injuring 22, and multiple glide bomb attacks in Kharkiv and Odesa, the latter described as “a new, serious threat” by local officials. Ukrainian rail services were disrupted due to shelling damaging infrastructure. The London meeting underscores continued Western support for Ukraine while highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by Russian military operations. Source: AP 

Turkey is in discussions with Qatar and Oman to purchase secondhand Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets as part of its plan to strengthen its air force, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday. The country intends to acquire several Eurofighters and other advanced aircraft as a temporary measure to enhance its fleet until its domestically developed fifth-generation KAAN fighter becomes operational. In July, Turkey and the United Kingdom signed a preliminary agreement for Eurofighter Typhoon sales, produced by a consortium including the U.K., Germany, Italy, and Spain. Reports suggest Ankara is also exploring deals with Gulf nations to secure used jets to meet immediate defense needs. “We have discussed ongoing negotiations with the Qatari and Omani sides regarding Eurofighter acquisitions,” Erdogan told reporters Thursday while returning from a Gulf tour. “These technically complex talks are progressing positively,” he added. Turkey lifts flight ban on Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah airport During his three-day visit to Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, Erdogan oversaw multiple agreements, including in defense, though details were not disclosed. Turkey, a NATO member, is also seeking reentry into the U.S.-led F-35 program, from which it was removed in 2019 over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems. Ankara plans a transitional fleet of 120 jets — 40 Eurofighters, 40 F-16s, and 40 F-35s — until the KAAN enters service, expected no earlier than 2028. Source: AP 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that the latest U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil companies are unlikely to have a significant impact on the country’s economy. Describing the measures as “an attempt to put pressure on Russia” and “unfriendly,” Putin added that they do nothing to improve Russia-U.S. relations. Responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Wednesday remarks about canceling a planned meeting with him, Putin said Russia has consistently supported ongoing dialogue. He also cautioned that approaching a Russia-U.S. summit without proper preparation would be a mistake. The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, aiming to pressure Moscow into agreeing to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.   Source: Xinhua

Off-site power to Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is being restored after a monthlong outage, officials confirmed Thursday — a development hailed as a vital step for nuclear safety. Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk said the 750-kilovolt Dniprovska transmission line, which connects the plant to Ukraine’s power grid, has been repaired. Work is continuing on the 330-kilovolt Ferosplavna backup line, which passes through Russian-held territory. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the repairs were carried out under a local ceasefire, calling the restoration of external power “a key step for nuclear safety.” The agency noted that both Russian and Ukrainian forces cooperated to ensure the repairs could proceed safely. “Both sides engaged constructively with the IAEA to enable the complex repair plan to proceed,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement. Grynchuk said Ukrainian engineers have repaired the plant’s power lines 42 times since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. In that period, the facility lost external power 10 times, forcing reliance on emergency diesel generators. The plant had been running solely on diesel backup since Sept. 23, when its last functioning external line was cut during attacks that Moscow and Kyiv blamed on each other. Although the plant’s reactors have been shut down, a stable power supply remains essential to cool the reactors and spent fuel, preventing potential nuclear disaster. Grossi warned that frequent reliance on diesel generators — meant as a “last line of defense” — underscores ongoing risks. “As long as this devastating conflict goes on, nuclear safety and security remain under severe threat,” he said. “Today we had some rare positive news, but we are far from being out of the woods yet.”

European Union leaders are seeking to assert a stronger diplomatic and political role in Gaza and the occupied West Bank after being left out of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Meeting in Brussels on Thursday, EU heads of state — gathered primarily to discuss Ukraine and Russia — are also addressing the fragile Gaza truce and potential European support for post-war stabilization. The bloc is the largest donor of aid to the Palestinians and Israel’s biggest trading partner. “It is important that Europe not only watches but plays an active role,” said Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden before the summit, warning that “Gaza is not over; peace is not yet permanent.” The war has deeply divided the 27-nation bloc and strained relations with Israel to a historic low. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had announced plans in September to pursue sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel to pressure it toward a peace agreement. That momentum eased following the U.S.-mediated ceasefire deal led by President Donald Trump, but several EU leaders — including those from Ireland and the Netherlands — insist sanctions and trade measures should remain options as violence continues in Gaza and the West Bank. They argue such steps give Europe leverage to push Israel toward restraint. Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Europe as “irrelevant” and accused it of showing “enormous weakness” in the peace process. The EU had no visible role in the ceasefire negotiations and is now scrambling to join diplomatic efforts shaping Gaza’s future. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc must be directly involved in Gaza, “not just pay to support stability and reconstruction.” The EU has pledged humanitarian aid, continued backing for the Palestinian Authority, and potential security support through its West Bank police program — possibly extending it to Gaza as part of the ceasefire’s 20-point stabilization plan. Brussels has also sought membership in the plan’s proposed “Board of Peace,” a transitional oversight body, according to Dubravka Šuica, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Denmark and Germany have joined the new U.S.-led stabilization mission overseeing the truce, with both nations’ flags raised at the Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel. The EU Border Assistance Mission in Rafah, which began in 2005, has already redeployed 20 security officers from Italy, Spain, and France to the Gaza-Egypt border. Earlier this year, during the February-March ceasefire, the mission helped more than 4,000 people — including over 1,600 medical patients — leave Gaza before operations were suspended when fighting resumed. Outside the EU framework, several European nations have taken unilateral actions against Israel. Spain has called the Gaza war a “genocide” and imposed an arms embargo, while Slovenia has enacted its own arms ban. Protests across European capitals have intensified calls to recognize Palestinian statehood, and some broadcasters are even urging Israel’s exclusion from next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Tens of thousands of Hungarians marched through Budapest on Thursday in a show of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as he faces one of the most competitive elections of his 15-year rule. The demonstration, called a “peace march” by organizers, coincided with Hungary’s Oct. 23 national holiday, commemorating the crushed 1956 anti-Soviet uprising. Waving Hungarian flags and banners reading “We don’t want to die for Ukraine,” marchers voiced support for Orbán’s stance against Western involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. Participants from across Hungary and neighboring countries filled central Budapest, crossing the Danube’s Margaret Bridge toward the parliament building. Many echoed Orbán’s message of defending Hungary’s sovereignty and Christian values. “Orbán is the only leader who can protect our country from external threats,” said Babett Lugosi, one marcher. Orbán, the European Union’s closest ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly opposed military aid to Ukraine and called for an immediate ceasefire. His government maintains warm ties with Moscow while clashing with Kyiv and EU leaders over sanctions and war policy. Following the march, Orbán was expected to address supporters, rallying his base as his ruling Fidesz party trails in polls behind Péter Magyar’s new center-right Tisza party. Magyar, a former Fidesz insider, has gained popularity with promises to tackle corruption and revive Hungary’s struggling economy, which has suffered from high inflation and stagnation. In response, Orbán’s allies organized Thursday’s mass demonstration to project unity and strength ahead of the vote scheduled six months from now. Across Budapest, buses brought in supporters from rural areas and even Hungarian communities in Romania’s Transylvania region. Meanwhile, Magyar’s supporters held a rival rally in central Budapest, highlighting the deepening political divide. Both gatherings served as an early test of momentum heading into a high-stakes election that could reshape Hungary’s political landscape. One participant, Sándor Kerekes, who traveled from Romania, said he joined to show solidarity. “It’s important to stand together for peace and unity among nations,” he said.

British counterterrorism police have arrested three men in London on suspicion of spying for Russia, authorities said Thursday. The Metropolitan Police said the suspects—aged 44, 45, and 48—were detained at separate addresses under the National Security Act on allegations of “assisting a foreign intelligence service.” Officers confirmed that the country involved is Russia and that multiple properties across London are being searched as part of the investigation. British officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of waging a growing campaign of espionage, sabotage, and cyber operations against the United Kingdom. “We’re seeing more ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services, and these arrests are part of our ongoing efforts to disrupt such activity,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of London’s counterterrorism policing unit. MI5 chief Ken McCallum said last week that Russia “is committed to causing havoc and destruction,” adding that authorities have recently disrupted several hostile surveillance plots targeting individuals viewed as enemies by Russian leaders.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever on Thursday warned that European Union partners must share the risks if they plan to use billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets held in Belgium to support Ukraine’s economy and military efforts. Ukraine’s projected budget and defense needs for 2026 and 2027 are estimated at around $153 billion. The European Commission has been developing a plan to use frozen Russian assets as collateral to secure funding, with the largest portion—approximately $225 billion—stored in Belgium. The Belgian government, however, is cautious about releasing the funds without guarantees from other EU nations. “If we want to provide these funds to Ukraine, it must be a collective effort,” De Wever told reporters ahead of an EU summit in Brussels. “Otherwise, any Russian retaliation would hit Belgium alone, which is not reasonable. We are a small country, and retaliation could be severe, including the seizure of European-owned assets in Russia.” The EU’s proposed mechanism, described by the European Commission as a “reparation loan,” would see member states guarantee a loan of about $165 billion to Kyiv. The money would not come directly from frozen Russian assets, and Ukraine would only repay the EU if Russia pays significant war reparations for the destruction caused during the conflict. If Moscow refuses, the assets would remain frozen. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has criticized the plan, calling it an attempt to “illegally confiscate Russian property.” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clarified that the EU is not confiscating the assets but using their cash balances to issue a loan to Ukraine, with repayment contingent on Russia’s reparations. De Wever emphasized that Belgium has yet to see the legal framework for the plan and called for careful scrutiny, noting, “This is a major step that has never been attempted, not even during the Second World War, so it cannot be taken lightly.” Source: AP

Just days after the shocking theft at Paris’s Louvre Museum, speculation is mounting over the possible fate of the stolen royal jewels, valued at more than $100 million (88 million euros). Some experts caution that the items could soon — if not already — be melted down or broken into smaller pieces, which could later be sold as new necklaces, earrings, or other jewelry without attracting much attention. “You don’t even have to put them on a black market, you just put them in a jewelry store,” said Erin Thompson, an art crime professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. “It could be sold down the street from the Louvre." Thompson and others say this approach has become more common with stolen jeweled and metal goods, as thieves try to cover their tracks and profit. Christopher Marinello, lawyer and founder of Art Recovery International, added: “By breaking them apart, they will hide their theft.” He noted that moving the pieces out of France and through jewel cutters in other countries could make them even more “traceless.” While dividing or melting the items reduces their historical value, it also makes them easier to sell. “The real art in an art heist isn’t the stealing, it’s the selling,” explained Robert Wittman, former FBI art crime investigator. He expressed skepticism that Sunday’s thieves could successfully monetize the Louvre jewels intact, pointing to their identifiable clarity and historic gold composition. “Because of what they are, there’s really no point destroying them,” Wittman said.Scott Guginsky, executive vice president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, noted: “It’s not something that you can move on the open market. It’s nothing that can go through an auction house." He added, “I can’t see them stealing it without having an idea what they want to do. There’s always a person willing to buy stolen jewelry. No matter what it is, somebody will buy it.” Sara Yood, CEO of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, said the age of some jewels could make them harder to track if altered. “Because these are historical pieces, it’s rather unlikely that it has those identifying features,” she noted. Experts also point out that bigger gems can be recut to become unrecognizable, although finding skilled people to do so without questions is a challenge. Thompson added, “the guys who actually enter the museums are usually all hired hands, and they’re almost always caught in these cases.” Source: AP

European Union leaders are set to approve a fresh round of sanctions against Russia and advance plans to use Moscow’s assets frozen in Europe to support Ukraine’s war effort and economy for at least the next two years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the one-day summit in Brussels, as he and European allies push for a ceasefire to end nearly four years of conflict. “Both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia remain the two necessary requirements to achieve a just and lasting peace,” EU Council President António Costa said in an invitation letter to EU leaders. The summit comes after U.S. President Donald Trump paused plans for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he did not want it to be “a waste of time.” The move adds another twist to Trump’s stop-and-go efforts to resolve the war. EU leaders are also discussing ways to remain engaged in Trump’s Gaza peace plan. While the EU is the world’s largest donor to Palestinians, it has limited influence over Israel, partly due to divisions among member states, and has struggled to play a significant role in the conflict. In contrast, the EU’s position on the Ukraine war is clearer. The summit occurs as Russian forces continue to strike Ukraine’s power grid ahead of the approaching winter. Earlier this week, Ukraine’s strongest European supporters, forming a “coalition of the willing,” opposed any pressure on Kyiv to cede territory captured by Russia in exchange for peace, as Trump recently suggested. The U.K. will host a meeting of the coalition’s more than 30 members on Friday. On the EU side, leaders plan to push ahead with using billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s military and economic needs, despite concerns about potential consequences. Belgium holds the largest share of these frozen assets, estimated at $225 billion, and has sought guarantees from other European partners before releasing any funds. Ukraine’s budget and defense requirements for 2026 and 2027 are projected at around $153 billion. The EU summit is also expected to approve a new “road map” to prepare Europe for potential Russian aggression by the end of the decade, as officials warn that Russia could target another European country within three to five years. Source: AP